Head of Safeguarding
Listed on 2026-01-14
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Management
General Management, Program / Project Manager, Healthcare Management, Operations Manager
Role overview
As Head of Safeguarding, you will lead New Horizon Youth Centre’s safeguarding strategy and practice, ensuring we provide the highest standards of safety and care for the young people we support. You will act as Designated Safeguarding Lead, overseeing quality, consistency and continual development of safeguarding practice across the organisation.
You will work closely with the Chief Operating Officer to develop and implement relevant safeguarding policies, facilitate staff training, embed learning from incidents, and ensure safeguarding is understood as everyone’s responsibility. This is a senior role with strategic and advisory responsibilities, but no direct line management of frontline delivery staff.
We are happy to consider candidates taking their first step into leadership and we will consider exceptional part time candidates to ensure we find the right person or people for the role. We particularly welcome candidates from Black, Asian and minority ethnic communities as these are over represented communities in our services and yet underrepresented within our leadership.
Key detailsContract type and hours: permanent, 35 hours per week Monday‑Friday
Starting salary: £46,800 (salary scale £46,800‑£52,000)
Location: New Horizon Youth Centre, 68 Chalton Street, London, NW1 1JR
Final date to receive applications: 9am, Friday 30 January 2026
How to apply: complete our application form below, submit your CV and write a 2 page cover letter/supporting statement. Please don't include your name or address in your CV or cover letter.
Reporting to: Chief Operating Officer (COO)
Main tasks and responsibilitiesLead NHYC’s organisational safeguarding strategy, setting high standards for policy, culture, and practice.
Maintain up‑to‑date knowledge of safeguarding legislation and best practice, ensuring NHYC remains compliant and responsive to the external environment.
Develop and review NHYC’s safeguarding policies and procedures, in collaboration with the COO, ensuring policies are accessible, inclusive and understood across teams.
Convene regular forums with deputy DSOs (Designated Safeguarding Officers) to review cases, share learning and drive continuous improvement.
Act as a key point of contact for safeguarding concerns or incidents to be escalated. Provide appropriate leadership, advice and case support to teams across our frontline services.
Ensure maintenance of high quality, accurate safeguarding records.
Coordinate responses to serious safeguarding incidents where required, including using insights from reviews to inform ongoing training, policy and practice improvements.
Develop and deliver internal safeguarding training for staff at all levels of the organisation.
Promote reflective practice and continuous learning across teams.
Represent NHYC in relevant safeguarding forums, networks or multi‑agency meetings.
Liaise with statutory safeguarding partners as needed, ensuring appropriate referrals and escalation.
Provide regular safeguarding reports to the COO, Leadership Team, and Board of Trustees.
Support Trustees in fulfilling their safeguarding oversight responsibilities, including through training and assurance reporting.
Following New Horizon’s policies, procedures and performance expectations in all functions of the post.
Undertaking any other duties as may be reasonably required by the Chief Executive or Chief Operating Officer.
are looking for an individual who can demonstrate the following competencies and want to use these to the full in their work.
E:
Essential
D:
Desirable
Experience:
Significant practical safeguarding experience gained through professional experience in youth, homelessness or social care services, or a relevant field. (E)
Professional qualification in social work or equivalent. (D)
Proven track record of advising or overseeing safeguarding practice within a complex organisation, including effectively managing high levels of risk. (E)
Experience upskilling teams around safeguarding policy, including through conducting case reviews and/or delivering training. (E)
Experience of using IT systems (including databases) to support…
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